Questions answered about tailback’s decision to leave team
When the Utah State University football team took the field against Boise State University on Saturday, the Aggie running attack was without a familiar face.
Already short-handed with junior college transfer James Samuel missing the BSU game with a concussion, the USU running game was dealt another blow when sophomore tailback/return specialist Roger Robinson left the team for personal reasons.
Aggie Head Football Coach Mick Dennehy made the announcement official after the team’s practice Sept. 24. Robinson reportedly announced he was leaving the program that Monday.
Although Robinson has declined to talk about the events leading up to his decision, he issued a statement to the USU athletic media relations office. In that statement, Robinson said his decision to leave the program was not based on one particular event.
“I wish to be very clear that my decision to end my relationship with the Utah State University football program was not an emotional or abrupt reaction brought about from a single event,” he said in the release. “My decision to leave the program was due to a culmination of events too numerous to recount, and too improper to discuss in a public format.”
Marcos Nunez, the player’s uncle, said Robinson’s decision to leave the program was an extremely difficult one for Robinson. While there were a variety of factors that led to Robinson’s decision, Nunez said his nephew’s fractured relationship with Aggie offensive coordinator Bob Cole weighed heavily on his decision to walk away.
When asked if college football is still in Robinson’s future, Nunez said “without question.” Because Robinson would lose a year of eligibility if he were to transfer to another Division I program, Nunez said his nephew plans on transferring to a school in the Big Sky Conference at the end of the semester.
The Big Sky is a Division 1-AA conference when it comes to football.
“There’s four or five teams in the Big Sky Conference he is expressing interest in,” he said. “He doesn’t want to sit out a year. He would have to sit out a year if he were to transfer to a school like Washington State or San Diego State.”
As for the Aggie football team, both coaches and players alike were sad to see Robinson leave, but his decision to walk away forced the team to come together, Dennehy said in an interview with the Herald Journal.
“You hate to see anybody leave, but it’s kind of nice to see a group of guys kind of bow up when the going gets tough,” he said.
Through the first four games of the season, Robinson led the Aggies in rushing with 128 yards on 17 carries, and all-purpose yards per game (113.5).
The Apple Valley, Calif. native gained a career-high 93 yards on the ground Sept. 14 against Idaho State University.
Known for his speed out of the backfield, Robinson was a proven deep threat last season as a freshman return specialist as he set a school-record in kickoff return yardage (774 yards). Robinson returned seven kickoffs for 217 yards against BYU, and scored on a 64-yard punt return against the University of Utah – the first time he touched the ball as a collegian.
In his statement to USU athletic media relations, Robinson said he would continue to support his former teammates throughout the rest of the season.
“I am very disappointed and I apologize that my career at Utah State University has ended in this fashion,” he said. “I wish all of my former teammates success with the rest of the season.”
Although Nunez said Robinson plans on leaving USU at the end of the semester, he will miss the school and the bonds he has developed with his former Aggie teammates.
“He loves Logan, Utah,” Nunez said. “He wants to be part of the program, he just can’t. He still communicates with players on the team, and they feel no ill will toward him.”
-jwturner@cc.usu.edu